Compare towns

Cabot vs Jay vs Northfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Northfield has the most renters (26.5% rent).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureCabotJayNorthfield
People
Population
1,579
471Lowest
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.7%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.3±6.6
6% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
Jay and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.2%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21%±6.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Cabot and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.7%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,031±$16kHighest
5% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
Cabot and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$268,500±$77k
15% below VT
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$274,400±$21kHighest
13% below VT
Northfield and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,243±$354Highest
about the VT average
—
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
Cabot and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,639
8% below VT
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±26.7
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Northfield and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
1 yr newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
27% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
Work from home
21.4%±4.2
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #42 of 70 in VT
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town — None in town Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.